The Best Restaurants in Covent Garden

Flat Iron has really cracked the code on a great dinner experience – it’s delicious, reasonably priced, always consistent and feels a bit special too. You’re met with a rustic modern interior with wooden tables & chairs and plants all around you alongside a candle on the table which adds to the ambience. The joy of Flat Iron is all the little free extras you get as part of the meal. On entry, you get beef dripping popcorn to share which is seasoned to perfection and extremely moreish. 

Either go for the classic flat iron steak or their wagyu special if you’re feeling boujee, get it cooked medium rare or medium and it will melt in your mouth, topped with some flaky salt for extra flavour. For sides, the famous creamed spinach is NOT to be missed; creamy chopped spinach with hints of sweetness from nutmeg, genuinely so addictive. Their chips are always perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle and their bone marrow mash is smooth & creamy. To finish, you get given a mini cleaver token which you hand in at the door to get your free soft-serve ice cream – either vanilla or salted caramel – and then dipped in chocolate flakes. I mean, does it really get any better than that? 

Have to try: Creamed spinach
Perfect for: Delicious steak dinner at an amazing value
Approx price for 2 people: £35-50

An extremely unassuming spot, often with a queue outside that makes you stop and think ‘Oh, that must be good.’ And it really is. Kangnam Pocha is a small Korean joint with upstairs and downstairs seating in a fairly cosy space. We actually got sat in the karaoke room downstairs, which they made into a makeshift dining area with a few tables to accommodate for the popularity – gotta respect the hustle. The menu offers all the Korean classics including KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), tteokbokki and a variety of bibimbaps. We weren’t given any complimentary banchan to start, but the food more than made up for it.

The beef bulgogi bibimbap came sizzling and loaded with veggies – the beef melted in the mouth and was seasoned to perfection, accompanied perfectly by the spicy and sweet sauce that coated every bite. Remember not to mix the rice at the bottom so you’re left with the crispy rice at the end! We also tried the Jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles) which were super satisfying and comforting with the creamy umami bean flavour and succulent pork. For just over £10 per dish, this is the best value Korean food you’ll get in London. 

Have to try: Beef bulgogi bibimbap
Perfect for: A laid back Korean feast
Approx price for 2 people: £25-40

Now, having recently come back from Japan we were on the hunt for some great udon in London. Don’t be put off by the fact this is a chain – it’s actually a chain straight from Japan itself, so you know it’s authentic! Marugame Udon is a self-serve style restaurant where you grab your tray at the start and build your meal canteen-style. The menu is simple, udon either in a soup or curry with various toppings – and starting from only £5! You can watch the udon being freshly stretched, rolled, cut and boiled in the kitchen which is a mesmerising sight. After you make your noodle choice, there’s an array of fried foods to choose from such as pumpkin croquettes, prawn tempura or chicken karaage.

We went for the simple Kake Udon – udon in a subtle yet satisfying broth flavoured with dashi (fish flakes). The udon texture was addictive. Perfectly cooked for a chewy bite that coats your whole mouth and leaves you wanting more. We got a few of the fried bits as well which complimented the udon like a dream. 

Have to try: Kake Udon
Perfect for: Authentic Japanese udon, canteen-style
Approx price for 2 people: £10-20

We’re going to Japan again (sorry not sorry) with a delicious ramen spot this time. Specialising in Tonkotsku ramen, Kanada Ya nails it with all the elements from broth to noodles to toppings, which is easier said than done. A small interior with some bar seating for solo dining and only a few tables, the vibe is relaxed and local. 

To start, try out the chicken karaage which has beautifully seasoned crispy batter and succulent chicken juicy thighs. The wasabi lime mayo is a standout and you’ll be asking for a top up. You can’t go wrong with the classic Tonkotsu ramen. The broth is deep, rich, salty and creamy and is balanced out perfectly with the sweet chashu pork belly that melts in your mouth. Ask for the noodles either firm or very firm for the perfect bite (and they’ll keep cooking in the broth). Fancy a snack on the side? Their onigiri is generously stuffed with fresh fish and well seasoned Japanese rice. 

Have to try: Tonkotsu ramen with firm noodles
Perfect for: A satisfying bowl of classic tonkotsu ramen/solo dining at the counter
Approx price for 2 people: £30-40

A modern Indian restaurant where the food is bursting with flavour. The interior is heavily decorated, perfect for the over the top theatre district, but don’t let that distract you from the delicious food. The service is lovely and allergens are clearly explained if necessary.

The menu is exciting with both classic dishes and ones elevated with a modern twist. We tried out a lot of the menu and here are our highlights; Toddy Shop Tiger Prawns which were butterflied tiger prawns with an incredible balance of spices with a sweetness coming through on the glaze and a fresh coconutty dipping sauce. The garlic naan was fluffy, light and charred in all the right places – the perfect vessel for scooping up Calcuttan chicken which was a tomatoey sauce with a slight sour touch from the preserved limes. The paneer is not to be missed, grilled with smoky char on the outside but soft and satisfying on the inside and seasoned with delicious spices. 

Have to try: Toddy Shop Tiger Prawns
Perfect for: Elevated Indian cuisine with bold flavours
Approx price for 2 people: £50-60

No need to jump on a flight to Spain when you can pop into Barrafina for dinner – a classic tapas bar that encapsulates an elevated dining experience in Spain. With the bar seating you’re thrown into catching all of the action as it’s happening, which, in our opinion, is the best way to dine. A buzzy atmosphere where the chefs are clearly passionate about what they do, this is a dining experience you’ll remember. 

The sweet and tart tomato paste generously topped perfectly toasted chewy sourdough bread on the pan con tomate, alongside delicious meaty manzanilla olives. The ham croquettes might just be the best we’ve had outside of Spain – incredibly creamy in the middle but held together by the crispy exterior and packed with ham. The padron peppers were piled high and beautifully charred to give a sweet and smoky taste. The king prawns were slightly overdone for our liking, but the chipirones (baby squid) were crispy bites of fishy heaven topped with a fresh squeeze of lemon and a moreish garlic aioli. 

Have to try: Ham croquettes
Perfect for: Going to Spain, without the plane
Approx price for 2 people: £45-60

Another chain that originates in Japan (so you know it has to be good) it Eat Tokyo, which offers sushi, bento boxes and other classic Japanese dishes such as unagi (eel) and yakisoba. A more local vibe with slightly chaotic interior and busy service, you might feel slightly rushed about before getting seated, but that’s how you know the food will be worth it. 

The fish in the sushi is fresh and generously portioned – the salmon is creamy and delicious and the tuna is meaty and sweet. The bento boxes are great value and make for a delicious dinner with various options such as salmon or chicken teriyaki, tempura, chicken katsu and more. We went for the salmon teriyaki bento and the salmon was cooked well and came with a couple of pieces of sushi, salad, Japanese pickles, rice and fried tofu. It also comes with a serving of miso soup. The unagi on rice was delicious – sweet and slightly smoky. 

Have to try: Takoyaki (fried octopus balls)
Perfect for: Delicious Japanese food without the frills
Approx price for 2 people: £35-50

A French bistro in the heart of Covent Garden that boasts a cute patio on the street. You might think it’s touristy and roll your eyes, but give it a chance and the food speaks for itself. The vibes on the patio are great and perfect for people watching on a summer’s day. A short but focused menu with snacks, entrees mains and grills, you know it’s about to be good as you aren’t flicking through 25 pages of random dishes. The plates are inventive and a modern twist on classic French dining such as artichoke with boiled egg and anchovy or roast duck with blood orange and green olives. 

We got a range of dishes and really enjoyed their elevated escargot where they grilled the snails on a skewer and served with a brothy veal rice. This rice was rich, meaty and umami and the snails were grilled well, initially greeting you with the charred smokiness of the grill but then the soft meat inside was sweet and soft. 

Have to try: Grilled snails and veal rice
Perfect for: Elevated modern French cuisine and peak people watching
Approx price for 2 people: £50-70

If you’re looking for great fresh pasta in Covent Garden then look no further than Bancone. With both counter seating and tables, the vibe is both buzzy and exciting but also elevated so it feels like a special occasion. They’re famous for their silk handkerchief pasta which is an absolutely dreamy texture – it’s soft, chewy and creamy all at the same time and it coats your mouth to leave you wanting (needing) more. They hand make their pasta fresh every day, and you can really tell. 

They also offer gluten free options which is always handy at a pasta spot and you can add black truffle to any dish if you’re looking for an extra umami boost. They often have exciting limited edition pastas that are definitely worth checking out, if not going for a classic such as cacio e pepe or the spicy pork & nduja ragu. 

Have to try: Silk handkerchiefs with walnut butter & confit egg yolk
Perfect for: Fresh pasta in a lovely setting
Approx price for 2 people: £40-50

A Chinese Indian fusion, a unique cuisine invented when people from the Chinese province of Canton immigrated to India bringing their traditional Chinese cooking techniques, but using Indian spices. A relaxed atmosphere with both Hindu and Chinese text on the walls, you’re immersed into Indo-Chinese cuisine and it really does taste as good as it sounds. 

The momos are a classic must try – steamed dumplings filled with spiced meat, super soft and satisfying on the outside and full of flavour on the inside. The monkfish malabar curry is a coconut based curry that’s creamy and sweet with a hint of warm spices. The sticky sesame vegetables are incredibly moreish with the sweet and umami sauce coating each vegetable perfectly including carrots, cabbage and green beans. 

They also have a set menu for £40pp so you can get a taste of it all! 

Have to try: Sticky sesame vegetables
Perfect for : Trying Indo-Chinese cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere
Approx price for 2 people: £50-60